Urban fringe forestry in Great Britain

Abstract

In England opportunities for urban people to recreate in the nearby countryside are very limited. The current "Community Forestry' initiative provides incentives and support to landowners to encourage increased public access to woodlands and to open the countryside. In the UK two government agencies, the Forestry Commission and The Countryside Commission, have targeted 12 areas to renew the urban-fringe landscape. Each area is drawing up plans for integrated landscape management using objective assessment techniques evolved by the two Commissions. Grant aid is available to landowners for management as well as new plantings. Local partnerships have been set up in each area to include landowning and environmental interests plus local governments and local and national volunteer groups. -Author